Louis XIV, King of France, 1638-1715

The ghost of Louis XVI of France warns Nicholas II of Russia to not make a hasty decision regarding the “Petition” presented by a crowd at the Winter Palace, which was met by police gunfire and the deaths of many in what became known as Bloody Sunday. Caption: Shade of Louis. — Warily, Brother.

comments and context

Comments and Context

Frank Nankivell’s front-cover cartoon on the February 8, 1905 issue of Puck was remarkably prescient in its portrayal of a current event in the news, and coldly prophetic — it was printed a dozen years before the ultimate revolution and murder of Czar Nicolas II.

Illustration shows Edward VII, King of Great Britain, full-length portrait, standing, facing front, with an insert showing “(Caricature of Louis XIV, by Thackeray) ‘You see at once that majesty is made out of the wig, the high-heeled shoes and cloak, all fleurs-de-lis bespangled….Thus do barbers and cobblers make the gods that we worship.’ –Thackeray.”

comments and context

Comments and Context

Generally, cartoonists around the world were not too kind to the son of the late Queen Victoria, Edward VII. He largely was depicted as a wastrel and playboy. Because of Victoria’s long life and reign, he was destined to be king for less than a decade. Keppler’s caricature, although gentler than the famous portrait of Edward from the rear, pants down, in the French journal L’Assiette au Beure, nevertheless depicts him as vacuous, and reminded (by the old Thackeray cartoon) that even in the case of kings, the clothes make the man.

Brander Matthews gently ribs President Roosevelt about having sent a letter signed “TR,” saying his “democratic soul is shockt.” Matthews liked a recent speech by Roosevelt about Augustus Saint-Gaudens, and appreciated Roosevelt’s use of one of his suggestions. Roosevelt’s mention of King Louis XIV of France made Matthews remember an anecdote involving Louis XIV and the sculptor Gian Lorenzo Bernini, which he relates to Roosevelt.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-12-16

French Ambassador Jusserand sends President Roosevelt a collection of hunting articles by Guillaume Vasse and a book by Henri Cordier that may be of interest to Roosevelt for his upcoming hunting trip to Africa. Jusserand spent a fine Fourth of July with American Ambassador to France Henry White, whose new home in Paris is “quite ambassadorial.” In European news, Jusserand reports that the state of Turkey seems most troubling, because unrest can spread easily from that region to others. European troops in Turkey are hampered from exerting their full influence. Jusserand includes two newspaper clippings describing King Louis XIV, but notes the rest of the article “had better not be repeated.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-07-19

Postcard showing people in front of the gates of the Palace of Versailles. Charles C. Myers discusses the history of the palace’s creation.

Comments and Context

In Charles C. Myers’s own words, “Versailles is a village about 15 miles from Paris and may be considered a suburb of the city proper. It is said to be one of the most beautiful locations in all France. For the reason of this beautiful locality and quiet place, Louis 14th spent much of his time in this delightful summer resort and away from the busy city. After 1682 this gorgeous retreat became the permanent headquarters of the Monarch and his Court and soon quite a busy city had spring up in the immediate vicinity and from this palatial headquarters was directed the political and military affairs of the nation. Now it soon become [sic] evident that more room was necessary for the King and his court, then the King began to draw plans and erect a mighty mansion which cost when completed, about nine billion dollars and threw the nation deeply in debt.

The magnificence of these series of buildings and gardens cannot well be described in words. The gardens covers over a thousand acres of ground and have many artificial lakes and canals and flowing fountains and profusely decorated by marble statuary throughout the gardens. The King employed over 100 sculptors for five years working on these many statues to be placed in the gardens. There was also an open air theatre maintained for the amusement of the king and his court.

Postcard showing an equestrian statue of King Louis XIV in the courtyard of the Palace of Versailles. Charles C. Myers discusses the history of the palace’s creation.

Comments and Context

In Charles C. Myers’s own words, “This is a closer view showing the statue of Louis 15th. A little to the left, not shown in this picture is the small chapel or church. The interior of the chapel was finished by the finest artists of the day and it is indeed the most beautifully finished place of the kind that it has ever been our pleasure to visit. We will see the interior view later.”

Collection

Charles C. Myers Collection

This postcard shows the Hall of Mirrors in the Palace of Versailles, a long hall lined with windows on one side and mirrors on the other. The hall is richly decorated with paintings on the walls, as well as on the ceiling.

Comments and Context

In Charles C. Myers’s own words, “Here is what is called the Hall of Mirrors. This room is 236 ft long 33ft wide and 43 ft high. On one side is 17 large arch windows which command a beautiful view of the gardens, while on the other side of the hall is as many large mirrors, corresponding in size to the windows.

The paintings overhead represent the many events during the reign of Louis 14th from 1661 to 1678, during the war with Germany, Holland and Spain.

This postcard shows the Council Chamber of Versailles, which Charles C. Myers notes was also used as a Study and Wig Room by King Louis XIV of France. The room is ornately decorated, and sports a table in the middle of the room underneath a chandelier, while stools sit at either side of a fireplace. Several large mirrors occupy large sections of wall.

Comments and Context

In Charles C. Myers’s own words, “This was the study and wig room of Louis 14th and the decorations and furniture are the same as used by him.”

Collection

Charles C. Myers Collection

This postcard shows the lavishly decorated bedroom of King Louis XIV at Versailles, with decorations and furniture said to be the same as they would have been at the time of his death in 1715. The canopied bed is flanked to either side by large painted portraits. A railing separates the bed from the main part of the room.

Comments and Context

In Charles C. Myers’s own words, “This is the bed room of Louis 14 showing this furniture and the bed upon which he died Spt.1 1715.”

Collection

Charles C. Myers Collection

This postcard shows a lavishly decorated room hung with several chandeliers. The room, which Charles C. Myers says was used variously as a dining room, reception room, and antechamber, is named for the bull’s eye window which is situated high on the far wall.

Comments and Context

In Charles C. Myers’s own words, “This was the Kings dining room but it was said he seldom used it as he was so often dining out with friends. it was also used as a reception room.”

Collection

Charles C. Myers Collection

This postcard shows a view of the palace of the Grand Trianon, looking over the gardens seated outside it.

Comments and Context

In Charles C. Myer’s own words, “This is a front view of the Grand Tranion [sic], a residence erected by Louis 14th for Madam de Maintenon and friends, in 1687 and about 10 minutes walk from the Palace, in a far corner of the gardens.”

Collection

Charles C. Myers Collection

This postcard shows the front of the palace of Grand Trianon, located near Versailles. In front of the facade is a large cobbled courtyard, where there are a number of potted trees. A carriage drives away from the palace. Charles C. Myers explains that this palace was built by Louis XIV as a more secluded palace for his wife, Madame de Maintenon, and was a quieter place to hold balls and receptions.

Comments and Context

In Charles C. Myers’s own words, “This is a rear view of the same place. When the king and his friends wanted a more quiet place to rest than the Palace they would come to the Grand Tranion [sic] and there were many Royal balls and entertainments held here.”

Collection

Charles C. Myers Collection

Poultney Bigelow compares the challenges Ferdinand de Lesseps faced constructing the Suez Canal to those of the Panama Canal. He argues that real-estate ownership among canal officials is responsible for the crowded, unsanitary conditions of Colon and that the government has failed in its administration of the canal zone.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-09

Theodore Roosevelt praises the Armed Forces and veterans of the Civil War. He also praises Father Edward Vattmann and other speakers of the evening as proud examples of loyal Americans with German ancestry. He calls for all of the various ethnic groups in America to come together under one language and one flag and condemns pacifists and anti-war politicians like Senator Robert M. La Follette. Roosevelt says all able-bodied men should join the fight and that America needs to be better prepared for war in the future.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1917-09-26